South Africans, Let’s find our way. Today.
We spend a lot of time thinking about how to make the world a better place. A good starting point is always with ourselves and the question today must be, South Africans, “have we lost our way”? It seems like these days we’re more self-serving, selfish and self-centered than ever, chasing the buck, looking after number one and forgetting all about those around us, never mind those in need. These thoughts may seem negative, particularly from a website that promotes positivity, but we have to be realistic about where we are at, in order to move forward we must stop tip-toeing around issues, face facts , expose and communicate our truth. (For various reasons it is necessary to spell out that our call to action is based largely on the world which we know, which is the pulsing, moving, exciting, edgy, hectic, crazy big African city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Most Represent readers will know that already. Ed)
Since when did we stop being AWARE and responsible? When did we stop caring about our human and political rights, about our neighbours, about our future? When did we stop being optimistic, when did we decide that it wasn’t our issue, that we’re prepared to give away our power, give away our rights, give up on our potential, our promise and a bright future for everyone? Why are we so de-politicized, leaving it all up to someone else, choosing to rather be placid, uninvolved and disinterested, then complaining, blaming and pointing fingers at every chance? Why do we accept to live a mediocre life and allow the MAJORITY of our people to continue to live in a horrific trap of poverty, violence and hopelessness? How did we let that happen? We have EVERYTHING we need to make our country the place we want it to be, talent, passion, people, inventiveness, resources, natural beauty, diversity, potential and a great sense of humour – everything we need is here. But we have lost our way.
When I look around me at so-called ‘intelligent, educated citizens’ and listen to some of the things that come out of their mouths, I feel like shouting “WAKE UP”! But freedom of expression is a basic tenet of democracy and so I either swallow my frustration or on the odd occasion, when I have the energy, waste some of it challenging them. For I do believe that most people are good, many have had no guidance or lost their way, some have no backbone, no integrity and little vision, but most people are good.
The saddest thing for me is to see just how successful the brain-washing tactics and social manipulation of the Apartheid architects really were, let’s not fool ourselves friends, they continue to permeate through every pore of many South Africans through to 2008. Parents REPEAT the destructive lessons they were taught to their children and perpetuate the cycle of fear and division, without for a moment questioning the negativity they spew, trying to break free of their ignorance or feeling a moments regret. I suppose on some levels, one has to feel sorry for them “for they know not what they do”, as they continue to do the bidding of a long gone evil government, they continue to be weak and non progressive.
Every day we CHOOSE to keep the racial suspicion, divisions, stereotypes and hatred alive all on our own, we CHOOSE to stay a divided ‘them and us’ society, we CHOOSE to let self-preservation rule us and fear drive our language and behaviour. And we create even more categories of them and us, those with or without HIV/Aids, those Zulus and those Xhosas, those Afrikaaners and those English, those poor and those middle class, those who can speak English and those who can’t, those squatters and those township dwellers. The list goes on.
Weekends we feel a little better, a nice braai, lots of booze, mindless nights, drunken driving, lots of bitching and moaning, locking and relocking, checking and rechecking, free weekend minutes, spend spend spend, tired, sleep, exhausted, tv, miserable, Sunday blues. Monday morning. Work. Yuk.
Last year I spoke about Simplicity, about how so many of us have forgotten the meaning and importance of simplicity in our lives, how we complicate our lives by chasing money and prestige and success, letting ambition drive us, believing that happiness and wealth are related… but when reality hits, and we’re sitting all alone, surrounded by our comfort and bling, exhausted from working ourselves to the bone to sell more corporate crap in a job we can’t stand, we’re overcome by how lonely and depressed we feel. Just look around you at the innovation and drive shown by those who have the least access to resources and support, it is an inspiration to those of us spoilt for choice.
I believe it’s all related to the unbalanced society that we find ourselves stewing in and the distorted history that we wear, our divisions causing us to stock up, grab and secure so that we are safe, prepared and able to live a comfortable life no matter if the ground is crumbling around us and things are falling apart. We’re blinded by a fast growing economy and a quick buck to be made, we’re living on a knife’s edge, never sure what danger could be lurking around a corner, we’re leaving our country’s future in the hands of a few, who may have good intentions, but who certainly can’t do it on their own. We all need to be a part of the solution. We need to reunite as South Africans and make our country work better, for all. We need to reawaken Ubuntu.
There are many of us that are lucky and blessed, who are educated, who have access to resources, who have family, who are loved, whose basic needs are looked after, who care, who want to make a difference, who want to be involved, who had wise, kind, decent and intelligent parents, teachers and elders, who were able to teach them about respect, integrity and love, who taught them to look beyond stereotypes, propaganda and ignorance, to help those in need. It is up to these people to stand up and show the way. To get involved and make change happen. For those that do their best already, and there are many, do not give up, keep spreading the love and showing us the way.
So today, I challenge South Africans to two things. One, I challenge you to BREAK FREE from your chains, from the past and from the sticky mess that we find ourselves in. Liberate yourselves, free your mind, forgive yourself, forgive others, live from a place of wisdom, love and respect and let your hatred and fear go. A simple change to make is to STOP describing people by their race, religion or creed. Stop labelling, stop stereotyping, stop dividing. See yourself, your neighbour and your enemy as a PERSON, if you have to categorise someone, use age, the clothes they wear, the emotions they show, the voice they have and of course the fact that most of us are proud South Africans and all good people at heart. Simplistic and idealistic though this may be, you’ll be amazed how easily it becomes a part of your new dialogue, and more than that, you’ll be amazed at how it liberates you from the past.
The second challenge today is to STOP thinking about YOURSELF and to THINK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, think about the enormous amount of potential and talent that surrounds you, the good people, the flawed people, the lonely people, the sad people, the strong people, the brave people, the tenacious people. Think about the fact that you are one of these people, you belong to the community in your street, you belong to the community in your suburb, you belong to the community in your city, your province, your country. You are in charge, you are responsible for your own situation and your own happiness BUT together, we are responsible for the future of the collective, the future of our people, the future of our nation. Lead by example. A simple change to make, is to smile and wave at everyone that you come across in your community. Simple. You’ll be amazed at the difference that makes and who knows where it will take you.
Come on South Africans, let’s get it together. We’re a brave people, a good people , a talented and diverse and exciting people and we can live MUCH simpler and happier lives in our beautiful country. Let’s pull together and find our way. Today.
Editorista
